Jarrod Russell and his sister Lana Lane talked about the impact of Russell’s recent fundraising effort in his eighth national Great Cycle Challenge. The 47-year-old childhood cancer survivor is the top funder in Canada for the SickKids Foundation since he became the first person to register in 2016. Russell will raise more money for his ride with an all-day pizza funder at Boston Pizza on Sept. 14. Geoff Lee Meridian Source
Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope continues to inspire many individuals to raise funds to find a cure for cancer.
One of those is Lloydminster kids’ cancer crusader Jarrod Russell.
The 47-year-old childhood cancer survivor rolls into September on his recumbent bicycle with at least $27,650 raised for the SickKids Foundation during this year’s Great Cycle Challenge, but it wasn’t easy.
“It was a little back and forth with the weather, but I made it,” said Russell.
He rode 1,053 kilometres around town in August to bring his leading eight-year national total to nearly $260,000 and counting, as monies can still be collected this month.
Boston Pizza and Lakeland College Rustlers’ players are teaming up to present a pizza fundraiser at the restaurant on Sept. 14 for the full day.
“As soon as Boston Pizza opens, every dollar for every pizza sold that day will go to Jarrod’s ride,” said Russell’s sister and funding coordinator, Lana Lane.
“In conjunction with the Rustlers, we are going to have celebrity servers.”
Russell will be at Boston Pizza from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. that day and from 4 to 8 p.m. for a family fun time with balloons and colouring activities for kids.
“It’s pretty awesome they stepped in,” said Russell.
This is the second time Boston Pizza has supported Russell’s cancer funding cause.
Restaurant owner, Marina Stephenson, knows him well as one of her former employees.
“Marina and her family have always encouraged our family to be part of their place. She’s giving back in a big way again,” said Lane.
Cancer fundraising will also be top of mind for everyone who takes part in the Lloydminster Terry Fox run at Bud Miller All Seasons Park on Sept. 17.
“I ran in the Terry Fox runs,” said Lane.
Fox lost his right leg to cancer in 1977, embarked on his cross-country Marathon of Hope in 1980 and raised millions of dollars to fund a cure for cancer.
He was forced to stop his run outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario because cancer had appeared in his lungs. Fox died on June 28, 1981, at the age of 22, but his legacy and fundraising live on.
“For somebody to make that impact, that’s powerful. It is about building the community and building a network of connections with all those people who have battled,” said Lane.
“One day, won’t it be wonderful when we can say cancer is gone and we’ve found the cure? That’s the goal.”
This year, Russell rode in memory of his uncle Bert Russell who died from cancer in March. His and Lana’s dad, Wayne has been in and out of hospital this summer battling colon cancer as well.
“We’re just being cheerleaders for Jarrod on the side, not only for the cause, but for all those people who are battling,” said Lane.
“When you look to the Great Cycle Challenge, any opportunity to be able to support families in that journey, I think is worthwhile.”
“We’ve got to be doing these things to build the awareness and the education piece around it and raise as much money as we can.”
That message has been picked up by five and six-year-old brothers Kolten and Keegan Davis of Okotoks, who were inspired by Russell and raised more than $8,550 in this year’s ride to add to their running total of $43,000 from four previous challenge rides. Kolten did his first ride as a three-year-old.
“They are sending videos cheering me on,” said Russell. “Little kids like that think about sick kids in the hospital. It’s amazing that they reached out.”
For the second year in a row, the young brothers also rode for an Okotoks teen who recently lost his battle with brain cancer, and they’ve bonded with Russell and his family.
Russell was diagnosed with brain cancer when he was just four.
“Next year, we decided what a fun thing to do. We’re going to put Jarrod’s bike in the back of the truck and go to Okotoks and we’ll ride with the boys for a day or two,” said Lane.
“I think it touches the heart. I think when you touch hearts, things happen.”
“So hopefully, what Jarrod’s doing and what Kolten and Keegan are doing as well as all those other riders in the Great Cycle Challenge, we just hope it makes a difference for those that are struggling with their little ones right now.’”
She says the cycle challenge and events like the Terry Fox run offer a bit of hope and faith for families and friends.
“That’s what life is about,” said Lane.
